Bioactive fatty acids and compounds from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis: Potential as biostimulants for plant growth

This study investigated the application of biologically active compounds from algae obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC–CO₂) as plant growth biostimulants. This study investigated, extracts from the Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. Plant tests confirmed the beneficial effect of the formulation containing SC-CO₂ extract of S. platensis and micronutrients on the initial phase of wheat growth (germination tests) and wheat and rapeseed yield (field tests). No phytotoxicity was observed with the treatments. The highest number of siliques was obtained for the formulation containing SC-CO₂ extract of S. platensis and amino acids. Mycological studies demonstrated the efficacy of the SC-CO₂ extract of S. platensis against six of the nine fungal pathogen strains tested. It was confirmed that the formulation containing SC-CO₂ extract of S. platensis effectively reduced the development of the pathogen and had beneficial effects on the initial growth phase of wheat (germination tests) and the yield of wheat and rapeseed (field tests). Using of algae and fatty acids from their extraction as biostimulants offers the possibility of reducing fertilizer doses – it is a promising tool to enhance plant production in the global climate crisis.     

Insulin Use and Smoking Jointly Increase the Risk of Bladder Cancer Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

BackgroundWhether insulin use predicts bladder cancer mortality has not been investigated. Furthermore, it is not known whether insulin use and smoking jointly influence the risk.Materials and MethodsA total of 86,939 patients (40,014 men, 46,925 women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and aged ≥ 25 years in a nationally representative cohort were followed prospectively from 1995 to 2006 for bladder cancer mortality. Cox regression was used considering the following independent variables: age, sex, diabetes duration, body mass index, smoking, insulin use, and area of residence. The models were created for patients aged ≥ 25 and ≥ 65 years, separately; and sensitivity analyses were conducted after excluding (1) patients with duration between onset of diabetes and bladder cancer mortality < 5 years, and (2) patients with diabetes duration at recruitment < 3 years. The joint effect of insulin use and smoking was evaluated.ResultsPatients who died of bladder cancer were characterized by older age, male predominance, longer diabetes duration, smoking, and insulin use. In multivariable Cox models, age, male sex, and insulin use were consistently predictive for bladder cancer mortality in all analyses, whereas the other variables were not. The adjusted hazard ratios for bladder cancer mortality for insulin users vs. nonusers ranged from 1.877 to 2.502 in different models (all P values < .05). Insulin use and smoking jointly increased the adjusted hazard ratio to 3.120 (95% confidence interval, 1.329-7.322).ConclusionsInsulin use is significantly predictive for bladder cancer mortality in patients with T2DM. Insulin use and smoking jointly increase the risk.     

Twins with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV with preserved periodontal sensation

Turkish twin brothers affected with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV) are reported. Their clinical findings were generally typical for HSAN IV. Interestingly they both had preserved periodontal sensation. Mutation analysis of the NTRK1 gene showed a homozygous c.2001C>T substitution in exon 15 in both twins. This base substitution is predicted to change a polar, positively charged amino acid arginine to the highly active amino acid cystein at position 654 (p.Arg654Cys). The parents were heterozygous for the mutation. This mutation has been reported previously in one Japanese and one Arab patients. The preserved periodontal sensation has not previously been reported in patients affected with HSAN IV. This preserved sensation in our patients might have been through Ruffini endings, the periodontal mechanoreceptors which have been reported to be present in TrkA knockout mice. Here we report the first twins affected with HSAN IV and the observation that periodontal sensation is not affected by mutation in NTRK1.     

Drug delivery system design and development for boron neutron capture therapy on cancer treatment

We have already synthesized a boron-containing polymeric micellar drug delivery system for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The synthesized diblock copolymer, boron-terminated copolymers (Bpin-PLA-PEOz), consisted of biodegradable poly(D,l-lactide) (PLA) block and water-soluble polyelectrolyte poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOz) block, and a cap of pinacol boronate ester (Bpin). In this study, we have demonstrated that synthesized Bpin-PLA-PEOz micelle has great potential to be boron drug delivery system with preliminary evaluation of biocompatibility and boron content.